A full spectrum of emotions came to mind when Agudat Achim Rabbi Rafi Spitzer saw the vandalism at his congregation’s Rotterdam cemetery.

The damage is widespread, and it appears to be random. Given the size of many of these gravestones, it must have taken a lot of time and effort to commit what people are calling a despicable, hate-filled crime.

This vandalism was first reported to Rotterdam Police was on April 22, according to Spitzer. That’s the same night the Jewish holiday of Passover began.

Spitzer didn’t find out about the damage until Friday, he said. A full assessment hasn’t been done yet, but he estimates 75 to 100 gravestones have been knocked down.

The cemetery is divided into four distinct sections, with four different Jewish congregations sharing it.

Learn why Spitzer said even the families of people whose gravestones were left standing were also victimized by watching the video of Dan Levy’s story.